After showing up in head-to-toe camouflage, a personalized rifle under his arm, and resembling a walking advertisement for Bass Pro Shops, everyone knew Curtis Glencross would have decent aim.

And, after all, it was his idea.

An afternoon of skeet shooting was on the agenda over the weekend in the Calgary Flames’ latest instalment of team bonding events this 2013-14 National Hockey League season. Already, they’ve attended a paintball session and were put to work at the Calgary Fire Department’s training centre.

But given the break in the team’s schedule — a light practice Saturday, a rest and recovery day Sunday, and two days of skates before a five-game road-trip — the outing served as the perfect opportunity for another get-together.

So Glencross, an avid hunter and outdoorsman, made the suggestion.

“It was fun,” said the Flames winger who, at this time of the year, is aiming for elk on his off-days and free evenings. “Before, they were kind of complaining, ‘Why are we doing this, going for another team building thing on a Saturday afternoon.’ But they got out there and guys got shooting and everyone had a good time.

“It’s amazing how their mentality changed in a hurry when they got out there and were firing guns.”

The game report, according to Glencross, showed there were some good shots, some bad shots.

And some really, really bad shots.

“I was brutal,” said defenceman Shane O’Brien, who openly admitted he’s not very outdoorsy. “But there was some good ones. (Tim) Jackman was good, Glencross, (Lance) Bouma was good. I know for myself, personally, it was my first time ever shooting a gun. It was cold and I didn’t dress properly. But the guys had a lot of fun with it.”

Joe Colborne, a relatively newer member of the Flames’ roster, said he appreciated the extra time spent with the team.

But — without naming any names — he also said there were a few players that were just painful to watch.

“I’m not going to lie, there were a bunch of guys out there that were struggling,” said the 23-year-old centreman, chuckling. “I felt pretty comfortable out there and you can tell guys who have shot guns and who haven’t.”

Like their work on-ice, there are certain strategies when dealing with a live target.

“A lot of times you can overthink it, but it’s just like leading a guy with a pass in hockey,” Colborne said. “You put it to where he’s going to be not where he’s at so you have to lead it a little bit. Once you get that down, guys that usually have better hand-eye in hockey are usually a lot better in shooting. Glenny had a bit of an advantage.”

Considering Glencross’s father-in-law owns a skeet thrower of his own that the Flames’ left-winger uses for fun in the summer, he had a leg up.

But once everyone got the hang of it, it was assistant coach Martin Gelinas who wound up capturing the team competition, an Annie Oakley-elimination round.

All-in-all it was a good day said head coach Bob Hartley.

“The boys had fun,” he said. “There was a lot of teasing and pranks out there but that’s why we do it . . . the difference between winning and losing is so slim that sometimes team unity can be a difference. That’s what we’re trying to get over here, that’s what we’re trying to build. Solid team spirit. More of a family.

“The guys deserve a lot of credit. They’re fun to work with.”

O’Brien, an off-season acquisition from the Colorado Avalanche, is also impressed.

“It’s definitely the most team building I’ve done on any team,” he said. “Some teams I’ve been on, you do maybe one or two and that was our third.

“We’re winning hockey games right now, so maybe it is helping.”

On Sunday, Glencross and his wife Tanya had the majority of the team and their families over for Thanksgiving dinner while there have been numerous team dinners — including a Saturday bash to celebrate the birthdays of Flames captain Mark Giordano (Oct. 3), Sven Baertschi (Oct. 5) Sean Monahan (Oct. 12), and Derek Smith (Oct. 13).

And with a 3-0-2 start to the season, there’s something to be said about the team-bonding efforts.

“We’ve been doing a lot together and are trying to stay a nice close group,” Glencross said. “When we’re doing something, everyone is there instead of doing our own thing.

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